Previewing the Pac-12

UCLA Bruins

Steve Alford made UCLA relevant again in the college basketball world last year, but he lost an awful lot when Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf declared for the draft. Early draft entries on top of Alford’s son, Bryce, and Isaac Hamilton graduating, and UCLA loses its top four scorers. That’s 60 points per game that needs to be accounted for. The silver lining for the Bruins however is that another talented group of freshman will be walking onto campus.

Taking a chunk of the scoring duties will be Kris Wilkes, a five star wing out of Indianapolis. Wilkes will show his ability to score in a variety of ways nightly for the Bruins. Filling the shoes of Ball and Leaf are California natives Jaylen Hands and Cody Riley. In Hands, Bruins fans can expect to see another terrific passer run their offense. While Riley may not have the motor of Leaf (and I’m not sure anyone does), he is a a much stronger post player, equipped with a nice mid range game. Returning upperclassmen Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh will provide experience, but UCLA’s season will again rest at the hands of freshman.